Ortiz maintains South Georgia Classic lead

Valdosta, GA (SportsNetwork.com) - Carlos Ortiz carded an even-par 72 on Saturday as he maintained the lead of the South Georgia Classic.

Ortiz, who has already collected a pair of wins this season, finished 54 holes at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club at 12-under-par 69.

"Today was a good day. I struggled on the back nine, but I'm still there and that's what matters," said Ortiz. "I'm in position for tomorrow. I'm still there and that's what I wanted, to be in contention on the last day."

Adam Webb fired a 7-under 65 to jump into a tie for second place with Rob Oppenheim (70) and Max Homa (70) at 11-under 205.

Ortiz entered the third round with a 3-stroke lead over Homa and Oppenheim, and all three birdied the second to maintain their difference.

After Homa traded a bogey at the fourth with a birdie at the fifth to remain in second place, Ortiz birdied the sixth to move to 14-under and open up a 4- stroke lead.

Homa later birdied the ninth to take sole possession of second place before Oppenheim answered with a gain at the 10th to meet him at 11-under.

Ortiz, meanwhile, found some trouble off the tee at the 10th and was forced to take a drop. He would eventually post a double-bogey 6 at the hole, dropping him to minus-12 and cutting his lead to just one.

He bounced back with a birdie at the 11th, but Oppenheim also birdied the same hole to stay within a shot of the lead.

Oppenheim gave that shot right back with a bogey at the 14th to briefly hand Ortiz another 2-stroke lead before Ortiz tripped to a bogey at the 15th to fall back to 12-under.

Ortiz and Oppenheim would trade birdies at the 16th with bogeys at the 18th to remain a shot apart heading into the final round.

"The pace picked up on the back nine and they started timing us on 15," Ortiz said. "Things got really quick and I struggled with that. It may have cost me two shots but I'm right there so it doesn't matter."

Homa bounced back from his gaffe with birdies at the 13th and 16th to reach 11-under, while Webb recorded seven birdies during his bogey-free round to earn his share of second place.

NOTES: The second round was completed Saturday morning after being suspended due to darkness on Friday ... Homa is making his fourth tour start of the year and is still searching for his first top-25 finish ... Ortiz will earn an automatic promotion to the PGA Tour with one more win this season.